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San Francisco • The trip was never easy, hitting both Colorado and Utah in a weekend.

But this season, more so than any other since the Utes have joined the Pac-12, makes even the bluebloods nervous.

"We got a split last year on that trip, and felt really good about the split," UCLA coach Steve Alford said. "It's different."

For the first time since he took the job in Salt Lake City, Larry Krystkowiak finds his Runnin' Utes an expected contender in the conference, voted to finish second by Pac-12 media in a preseason poll. Utah hasn't yet finished in the top half of the conference, but its returning experience, new talent and the faith in the man leading the program's resurgence have raised the team's profile significantly.

It feels good when people don't expect you to be in the cellar, Krystkowiak said. But after improving from a six-win team three seasons ago to 21 victories last year, now rising to the top tier of the league will be its own challenge.

"We won't be sneaking up on anybody as we move forward," he said. "We're going to have to be ready. The fact that we've got a lot of guys back, a lot of production back, it's still no sure thing that all of a sudden we're going to be winning games again. We still have to bring it."

The primary reason Utah is so feared this season is because for the first time, they have the tools to bring it.

Of the 10 All-Pac-12 players from last season, three return. One of them is senior guard Delon Wright, who made a whale-sized splash in his first season with the Utes. The scouting report everyone around the conference uses is "stat-sheet stuffer," thanks to the way he led Utah in points (15.5 ppg), assists (5.3 apg), steals (2.5 spg) and blocks (1.3 bpg) last year.

He's considered to be on the short list for 2015 Pac-12 player of the year. Some of Wright's chief competition, like Washington State's DaVonte Lacy, think they can beat him out, but acknowledge there's not many other players that contribute in so many ways.

"He does a lot for his team, and everybody knows that," Lacy said. "He just plays in a different state where he fills up the stat sheet: blocks, assists, rebounds, he fills up the water — whatever you need him to do."

The rest of the Utes also have built up the program's reputation. Jordan Loveridge has been a hustler since freshman year. Brandon Taylor brings points and can dish. Having Dallin Bachynski and Jeremy Olsen in the post gives the team physicality that other programs don't have in the frontcourt. Added talent is on the way, via a well-stocked recruiting class.

Utah's big goal is to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009, but many think they could do something even more special. It's a long way from the days when trips to the Huntsman Center were automatic wins.

"They're just more mature, and they have even more depth than they had last year," Arizona coach Sean Miller said. "I think they have one of the best home courts in the country. It will be a difficult trip for everybody."

While the heightened perception of Utah's program feels something like a victory, Wright is keenly aware that it's not — not one that counts anyway.

The Utes plan to take their preseason accolades in stride, never breaking step toward actually justifying them.

"We just have to go out and live up to that," Wright said. "We're not going to buy too much into it. We're just worried about going out there and trying to get some more wins."

Twitter: @kylegoon Pac-12 men's basketball

Preseason media poll:

1. Arizona 383 (31)

2. Utah 317

3. Colorado 316

4. UCLA 290 (1)

5. Stanford 264

6. Washington 189

7. Cal 188

8. Oregon 159

9. Arizona St. 155

10. USC 106

11. Washington St. 84

12. Oregon St. 45

First-place votes in parentheses